Monday, March 10, 2014

Maybe
the greatest work we've heard so far from Chicago bassist Jason Roebke – a key
player on so many sessions for other jazzmen in recent years, but a hell of a
visionary leader on his own! Roebke composed all new material for the record –
and the set's performed by an octet that's overloaded with heavyweights –
including Josh Berman on cornet, Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Keefe Jackson on
tenor, Jeb Bishop on trombone, Jason Adasiewicz on vibes, and Mike Reed on
drums – all players very familiar with Roebke's sound and style, and a great choice
to carry out his mission in the music. There's definitely a compositional
structure to the record, but many sounds are quite free, too – individual
voices soaring out strongly in this flurry of notes and tones. Titles include
"High Red Center", "Slow", "Dirt Cheap", "No
Passengers", "Ten Nights", "Shadow", and
"Ballin". ~ Dusty Groove

DEEP TONE PROJECT - FLOW

Fancy Music has announced the release of Deep
Tone Project - Flow, which is an excellent example of modern european jazz sound performed
by some of the best ukrainian musicians, who create an original mood and
atmosphere of a fascinating mixture of modern creative, post bop and
contemporary jazz. Features musicians: Viktor
Pavelko: tenor saxophone; Alexandr Pavlov: guitar; Konstantin Ionenko: bass;
and Pavel Galitskiy: drums. Tracklisting: Odd Fellow; BLue; Recent Sense; Fragments; Untitled; Air Shortage; and Flow.

LISA HILTON - KALEIDESCOPE

Like a
kaleidoscope shifting its colorful pieces to create a new vision of a
well-known view, pianist/composer Lisa Hilton blends the ever-changing elements
of modern and traditional jazz on her 16th release to date. Kaleidoscope
(available now on Ruby Slippers Productions) is Hilton's answer to viewing our
world and lives with a new perspective. The
album features performances by bassist Larry Grenadier, drummer Marcus Gilmore,
and acclaimed tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen on three tracks. "Larry's
always inspiring narrative coupled with Marcus's fresh enthusiastic energy
augmented J.D.'s deep, powerful tone superbly," recalls Hilton.
Kaleidoscope encompasses elements of retro bop and avant-garde as well as impressionistic
and minimalistic ideas throughout its 11 tracks. Hilton's imaginative
compositions draw equally from jazz greats like Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington
and Count Basie as well as the classical tradition. Ultimately,
Kaleidoscope offers a kind of jazz that simultaneously recalls the history of
an art form while also challenging us to consider an alternative point of view.
"The last few years have been challenging to so many, and I feel we need
to somehow shift our perspective - like a kaleidoscope shifts its pretty
pieces," reflects Hilton.